Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-15
0uit!a.
A correspondent Of the New York Wond
writes from Paris as follows

A correspondent Of the New York W0rld
writes from Paris as follows:
I have just had quite an interesting con,
versation with lady newly arrived from
Florence, where, during a sojourn Of some
months. she bad frequent opportunities af-
forded her Of meeting and observing the
celebrated "0uidan Miss &c la Ramee).
That lady is waxing we'll on in years, having
passed her !iftieth birthday some time ago.
She IS rather masculine in figure and her
iace. from much exposure 20 wind and
weather, has become decidedly fubicund,
and her nose as well. Her amber hair
which she used 70 wear flowing over her
shoulders ia he loug age. in the style she
favored in her earlier novels, BOW shows .
good deal ofsilveT mixed with lis ambsr,
and is cut short ana pushed back from her
forehead, :,eing confined ~ narrow fih
bon. On festive occasions she wears white
velvet Il fayoyita material Of hers. 10 judge
from the frequency wherew!th she arrays
her heroiues IN it. But on ordinary ooca-
sions she IS dressed in the worst and d0wdi
est form Of FUgiiah bad taste. This is rather
surprising, ss she describes such pretty
toilets in her novels, though, to be sure, she
is fond OF ascribiDg to Worth such dire ccr-
biuatiops as sage green and scarlet, or dead
~
drive tbs great dressmakey nalf wild 10 con
template. She lives with her mother
in a villa situated about four miles
from Florence, which is literally
craInmed with all sorts of choice aad beauti
fll artistic pCsssssi0ns-0ld embroideries,
antique gold and silver brocades, fine old
poroelaius bronzes, pictures, &c. In fact, it
is said that she has sunk most OF the large
sums that she has received for her later
novels in these purchases. She IS also eX-
travseantly fond Of dogs, and is always ac-
eompepied in her daily walks by some ten
or fifteen OF these canine pets, which are
usually oi the largest possible size. Also sac
delights in driving in g high Gog-cart at
| tremendous rate OF speed. and has been
more than once fined for 200 rapid driving
on ths lung Arno. Ia feeling and sympe-
thies she is ardeptly Italian, and she has
also very strong liking Tor Russian society,
as may be noticed by her later works. She
people, sad ehe frankly detes,s a!l Aules!-
cans, never letting slip 80 opportunity Of
rehutfing or snuhbing them. Otter, bowev
er, she gets as good o. she sends from her
transatlantic opponents. Il chaoced one
evening" for instapcs, tGat sne net at party
young American Siri who wore N eyeglssss
and who being Gpprised by her hostess Of
tho arrival of TIE celebrated Ouida, natural
Is looked at tho new conner with ali her
ewes and her eye glass 81 well She was
presented to that parsonage. later il the
evening, when Ouida remarked, II knew
you were an American, Miss Ms soon as
/ caught sight of you" 'And how so ?nI
was the query. Because rejorted the
novelist, you were behaving as though you
were in a theatre % did think was in
theatre" responded Miss X. It'll sew
YOU enter and then ] thought was in q
menagerie." It is, III fact, the refusal 4
Americans in general to put up with Ouda's
impertaences of speech and rudeness of
action that has made our country people un-
popular with tbs dashing authoress, and has
impelleC her TO the creation OF such char.
acteys as Fuschia Leach in "Moths" and
Mrs. Henry V. CLANS iu Friendship" BY
the way, the original of the latter character
acted with great tact and intelligence when
that very scurrilous novel was first publish
ed. Every one of the personages were por-
traits and everybodyiu Florence was talking
about the work. So Mrs. Henry Y. CLANS"
at once ordered out her carriage, went to
call upon Ouida, congratulated her publicly
and etlusiyely on the success Of her new
book and, in fact, SO completely ignored the
fact that she was held up to reprobation
therein, that all her friends followed her
Lead, and the vicious attack Of the novelist
lost half of its force.''